For eighteen years I was in a condition of semi-invalidism, the last three years of that period being totally unfit for any kind of work. According to medical diagnoses, by several physicians of various schools of medicine, I was suffering from chronic hereditary rheumatism, heart disease, kidney disease, and the consequent general debility following upon these disorders. Almost every known human remedial agency was faithfully tried, without any permanent result.
Hearing of the healing of a friend through Christian Science, twelve years ago, I decided to give it a trial. On first reading the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, the chapter on Prayer gave me such a spiritual uplift, such a happy sense of peace, hope, and encouragement! When I read on page 1, "Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds," this so logically explained prayer to me that I felt I knew now how to pray with understanding; and in a very short time I had ample proof that this was so. With the loving help of a Christian Science practitioner, my health improved so much that I was soon able to go back to business again; and so complete has been my recovery that during the late war I was accepted for military service, and served four years without any ill after effects whatever. I have proved the truth of what Mrs. Eddy says in that wonderful poem, "Christ and Christmas" (p. 53):—
"Forever present, bounteous, free,
Christ comes in gloom;
And aye, with grace towards you and me,
For health makes room."
